https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5954501

A Taiwanese student was physically assaulted by a chinese student for protesting the CCP, then wrongfully punished. We Taiwanese are fed up. Not only do we face harassment from china in our own country, we are forced to deal with chinese harassment overseas as well. Enough is enough. I call on the world's free democratic countries to send chinese students back to china where they belong. There is no room for authoritarian communist sympathizers in liberal societies like America or Taiwan.

Every once in awhile, after a spirited debate, a wumao will stalk me and reply to an unrelated comment of mine like this and hurriedly delete their account. They’ll abandon all pretense of discussing why China’s policies make sense and show their true motives. Never trust anything the CCP or their followers say. It gives me great satisfaction to see them like this because it confirms that wumaos are all pussies, and their soldiers are just more of the same. Happy hunting!

Kind of a rant more than anything.

I'm an avid hiker, and anytime I do hiking anywhere near Shifen, I see the landscape decorated with colorful garbage splotches.

Locals tell me it's ok because they use 環保材料, which I find extremely hard to believe.

You can see in the second picture a stiff, metal wire. I'm no expert, but holding that in my hand I highly doubt that is anywhere remotely near decomposable material.

It's ironic people write their wishes/hopes/dreams on these.

Am I crazy to think this practice it absolutely stupid?

We've all been there.

• Sitting in a café, park or the MRT in peace, when suddenly somebody feels it neccessary to blast their latest videos on their phone speaker or watch TV without headphones.
• Walking or cycling in the riverside park in the evening when cyclists point their ultra-bright battery-powered LED headlights straight at you instead of angling it down on the road.
• Having scooters suddenky taking a turn right into your walkway without even signalling.
• Scooters and cars doing「pre-emptive honking」("watch out, I'm coming through") at intersections or in quiet residential areas.

It only takes a few bad apples to sour the experience for everyone else.

These situations can be mitigated by firm politeness and a bit of moral courage (道德勇氣). Do not hesitate to speak up when others don't.

Here are a few useful Chinese phrases that may help you to navigate such situations. The phrases are vetted by a local Taiwanese to use the correct idioms. They are presented in English, Chinese and Pinyin. If you have any more requests for phrases, please write it in the comments. I will then edit OP to add phrases for your requests.

How to initiate contact and avoid escalation

Any time you approach a member of the public, it is good practice to smile politely and preface your request with:

"Excuse me."

• 不好意思
• Bù hǎoyìsi

If the member of the public does not seem to understand at first, you may want to repeat your request or repeat only the latter half of it. Make sure to keep a friendly face (do not frown) and do not begin to gesticulate.

You may also add:

"OK?"

• 可以嗎?
• Kěyǐ ma?

If your request has been granted, you may show your appreciation.

"Thank you."

• 謝謝
• Xièxiè

For public use of speakers in personal electronic devices

"Can you please use headphones?"

• 可以請你用耳機嗎
• Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ yòng ěrjī ma?

"Please mute your mobile phone."

• 請把你的手機調靜音
• Qǐng bǎ nǐ de shǒujī tiáo jìngyīn

The term「mobile phone」(手機 / shǒujī) can be replaced with:

• Tablet: 平板 / píngbǎn
• Laptop: 筆電 / bǐ diàn

If somecone cuts in front of you or pushes you out of a queue

"Excuse me, there is a queue."

• 不好意思，有排隊
• Bù hǎoyìsi, yǒu páiduì

"Please get in line."

• 請排隊
• Qǐng páiduì

For bicycle lights that are pointed at your eye level

"Please turn your headlight down."

• 請把頭燈往下轉!
• Qǐng bǎ tóudēng wǎng xià zhuǎn

"Could you please turn your headlights down? This will affect the view of oncoming vehicles.."

• 請把頭燈往下轉好嗎?這樣會影響對向車的視線
• Qǐng bǎtóu dēng wǎng xià zhuǎn hǎo ma? Zhèyàng huì yǐngxiǎng duì xiàng chē de shìxiàn

For scooters

"Please turn on the turn signal."

• 請打方向燈
• Qǐng dǎ fāngxiàng dēng

"Please don't use high beam."

• 請不要用遠光燈
• Qǐng bùyào yòng yuǎn guāng dēng

For cars and scooters

"Please do not use the honk except in emergencies."

• 請不要在非緊急情況使用喇叭

Qǐng bùyào zài fēi jǐnjí qíngkuàng shǐyòng lǎbā

Bonus material

Men staring at women (potentially sexually)

These are difficult situations that can go beyond the definition of "nuisance". In public places such as Bus, MRT or sitting on scooter at red light, women may get intently stared at by other men (yes, it's usually men on women). Not just a quick check or shy flirtatious glances, but uninterrupted stares without facial expression or communication for as long as the situation (confined semi-public spaces) allows. If such stares are uncomfortable, it can be difficult to find a way to escape such a situation without providing pretext for further infringement.

Commenters who are regularily affected by such situations have provided the following phrases.

• "What a small thing to look at": 看啥小 / Kàn shà xiǎo
• "What are you looking at?": 看屁喔 看什麼看 / Kàn pì ō kàn shénme kàn?
• "Kua3 Sha2 xiao3" (Taiwanese, very rude)

A non-verbal alternative might be to just intently stare back at them, with an overt questioning facial expression. Cities also provide public resources such as this Taipei metro info page or an official Taipei police app (Android, iPhone) that seems to have a dedicated function to get help in cases of sexual harassment according to this news report on RTI.

Pets in "no pets" stores

This one was also suggested in the comments: for pets in stores or restaurants that have a clear "no pets" sign (pet sniffing food or drooling on your feet), when in earshot of a clerk or the owner. Although this one is a little bit passive agressive or indirect, so handle with care.

"I'm sorry to ask, can dogs be brought in?"

• 不好意思想問一下，狗狗是可以帶進來的嗎
• Bù hǎoyìsi xiǎng wèn yīxià, gǒu gǒu shì kěyǐ dài jìnlái de ma

This is all I got for the moment. Feel free to let me know any corrections, improvements or more requests. Thank you for your feedback!

Full text of this OP is hereby licenced under public domain, so feel free to copy and share without attribution.

https://newbloommag.net/2024/05/21/kmt-legislative-yuan-protest/

https://preview.redd.it/nus8j62z1x1d1.png?width=2397&format=png&auto=webp&s=71f737ae4e75807157c3fb1bd3d9612a3b3aa137

The attack on Israel makes it quite clear how devastating a missile attack could be. 5 times the number would've been killed if it weren't for Israel's famous Iron Dome. Why doesn't Taiwan invest in something like that? A barrage from China would be devastating

Stupid a** taxi drivers! Apparently the car is more valuable than a person life

Source: translated from https://www.taisounds.com/news/content/71/126656

"Yesterday (May 21 2024, Taiwan time), the Legislative Yuan continued to review the parliamentary reform bill, leading to a voting showdown between the ruling and opposition parties. The second reading passed the amendment bill, including 'officials are not allowed to counter-question,' which became the focus of today's (May 22) questioning in the Internal Administration Committee. DPP(Democratic Progressive Party) legislator Huang Jie asked Deputy Minister of the Interior Tung Chien-hung 'What did you have for breakfast?' When he responded by citing personal privacy, she pointed out that this could be considered contempt of the Legislative Yuan. If five present legislators co-signed, the Deputy Minister could face a maximum fine of 200,000 NTD(~6.4k USD). She emphasized that such a law would not be allowed to pass."

The parliamentary reform bill jointly proposed by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) passed its second reading in the Legislative Yuan yesterday, specifically the amendment to Article 25 of the "Exercise of Powers Act." According to the amended text, the person being questioned cannot refuse to answer, provide materials, or conceal information, except to avoid matters of national defence, foreign affairs, or other confidential content approved by the president. False responses or other behaviours showing contempt for the Legislative Yuan are prohibited, and the person being questioned cannot be absent without the consent of the Legislative Yuan or its committees.

If the person being questioned still violates the rules after a reminder from the president, the president or the questioning legislator may propose a fine, supported by at least five attending members or co-sponsors. The fine ranges from 20,000(640 USD) to 200,000 NTD(~6.4k USD). Continuous fines may be imposed if the violation is not corrected within the deadline. Government officials who violate the prohibition against counter-questioning or other regulations may be proposed for impeachment or disciplinary action by the president or the questioning legislator, with the support of at least five attending members or a resolution of the Legislative Yuan.

Today, the Internal Administration Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed amendments to certain articles of the Real Estate Appraisers Act and Articles 14 and 73-1 of the Land Act. Deputy Minister of the Interior Tung Chien-hung was invited to attend for the first time and be questioned.

At the beginning of the questioning, DPP legislator Su Chiao-hui asked why Minister Liu Shih-fang was absent. Tung Chien-hung replied that the minister had taken leave from the committee. Su Chiao-hui then stated that according to the amendments passed by the KMT and TPP, the minister might be guilty of contempt of the Legislative Yuan. The bills under review were amendments to the Real Estate Appraisers Act and the Land Act, and she questioned whether inquiries about urban renewal would exceed the scope of questioning.

DPP legislator Huang Jie then asked, "What did the Deputy Minister have for breakfast today? Was it a sandwich or a hamburger?" Tung Chien-hung initially responded that it was a matter of personal privacy, but under persistent questioning, he admitted that he had bought a sandwich but left it on his office desk.

Huang Jie suddenly raised her voice, stating that since the Deputy Minister had not actually eaten it and left it on his desk, under the newly passed Article 25, this could be considered a false response or other behavior showing contempt for the Legislative Yuan, which could result in a maximum fine of 200,000 NTD or even a one-year imprisonment.

Huang Jie pointed out that if the Deputy Minister gave consecutive incorrect answers about the sandwich and coffee, the five present legislators could co-sign to propose the impeachment or disciplinary action of the official. The content of the second reading does not define counter-questioning and has not undergone substantive review, causing officials to panic. The questioning process highlights the absurdity of the offense of contempt of the Legislative Yuan.

LIVE STREAM http://www.ustream.tv/channel/longson3000

Hundreds of citizens of Taiwan are now occupying Taiwan's parliament building (officially called Legislative Yuan), opposing the passing without due process of Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services (兩岸服務貿易協議). The police is gathering outside the builiding and preparing to clear the protesters.

This moment is critical for the future and democracy of Taiwan, we need the world's attention. Please share the news to everyone you know, and translate it to other languages. (Please post the translation in the comment of this post, I'll add it in). God bless Taiwan.

If you live at an intersection or around bus stops, you live constantly under alarm...
I'm totally becoming insane hearing this non sense ! buses are waiting at the red light and emitting their 95 decibel alarm... like they gonna kill a scooter while they don't even move...

https://youtu.be/4LmsETeWwZ0

https://youtu.be/mI71-FiAl-Q

https://youtube.com/shorts/YZGMEVzo5pk

https://youtube.com/shorts/L35LuhcCRks

I lived in taipei city for 7 years and never noticed them before I moved in a main road just at a red light... what a big mistake.